Patrick Grant doesn’t just design immaculate clothing or judge other people’s sewing on The Great British Sewing Bee – he also loves to cycle.
Growing up in Edinburgh, Grant balanced rugby – representing Scotland at U18 and U19 level – with cycling through the countryside. It’s a passion that has stood the test of time. Now 54, the renowned clothier and businessman still makes sure he’s never far from getting out on two wheels.
‘I wake up early, work long hours and try to keep my brain in shape by undertaking plenty of exercise,’ he told The Gentleman’s Journal.
Naturally, that exercise involves plenty of cycling. Grant used to ride 18 miles a day when he lived in south London and commuted to work on Savile Row.
It proved vital preparation for completing the Dirty Reiver, a gravel race on the Scottish border, and even a 24-hour bike ride from London to Newcastle while he was still in his 40s, covering more than 300 miles to test his fitness and endurance in a sport he loves.
‘There’s definitely the mental aspect,’ he told Cycle Speak. ‘The clearing of the head and having time to reconnect. I really enjoy just being in those places and the speed that you pass through the scenery on a bicycle seems to be optimal. I love hill walking as well, but in five hours on the bike you can move across so many different landscapes whereas, on foot, this sense of journeying is a little more limited.’
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Through it all, though, Grant has remained adamant about steering clear of Strava and avoiding an obsession with his stats.
‘I don’t use Strava. I choose to disconnect myself from all that sort of stuff as well. I carry my phone because I like to take photographs and it’s a more convenient size than my camera. And in my job, I’m on the phone for sometimes six or seven hours a day and receive constant emails.
‘A steady stream of interruptions to any train of thought makes it difficult to think about one thing at a time. And because we have five different businesses, I’m constantly juggling between one and another. So the only time I really get to step away from all of that is when I’m cycling.
‘I find I have a very busy mind, but that all dampens down a bit when I’m riding and allows me time to reflect. And, of course, once you disconnect, your mind takes a moment to quieten before it starts to wander.’
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Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men’s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.
During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.
Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running – he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark…
You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs or on X @ryandabbs_
